Electronic device and function control method therefor

Abstract

Disclosed in various examples are an electronic device comprising a rotary switch, and a function control method therefore, the electronic device comprising the rotary switch by which a user can select a waterproof function and a microphone function, and informing, through an icon and/or a sound, the user of whether the electronic device is in a waterproof mode or a microphone mode according to the operation of the rotary switch, such that the user can easily select the waterproof mode or the microphone mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic device comprising:
 a switching element configured to close or open a microphone path so that a first function or a second function is performed;   a sensor unit configured to detecting whether the microphone path is closed or opened;   a touch screen configured to display whether the first function or the second function is performed; and   a controller configured to perform the first function or the second function.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first function is a waterproof function of the electronic device and the second function is a microphone function. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the touch screen includes:
 a touch panel configured to support the electronic device select the first function or the second function; and   a display unit configured to display whether the electronic device performs the first function or the second function.   
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the switching element includes a rotary switch configured to close or open the microphone path through a blocking member. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit includes:
 a noise sensor for measuring an external noise,   a Hall IC sensor for detecting whether a magnet equipped in the switching element is proximate or not, and   a push button pushed or released by the switching element.   
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a speaker configured to output a sound indicating whether the electronic device performs the first function or the second function.   
     
     
         7 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method for controlling a function of an electronic device, the method comprising:
 at a controller, displaying, through a display unit, a state of performing a first function or a second function by the electronic device;   at the controller, determining whether there is a rotation operation of a switching element;   at the controller, detecting a completion of the rotation operation of the switching element;   at the controller, when the completion of the rotation operation of the switching element is detected, recognizing that a microphone path of the electronic device is closed; and   at the controller, providing an identifying indication to a first function icon through a display unit.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first function is a waterproof function of the electronic device and the second function is a microphone function. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the detecting a completion of the rotation operation of the switching element includes, at the controller, detecting whether a magnet mounted on the switching element and an Hall IC sensor in the electronic device are proximate to each other within a given distance. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the detecting a completion of the rotation operation of the switching element includes, at the controller, detecting whether the switching element pushes a push button in the electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at the controller, when recognizing that the microphone path of the electronic device is closed, outputting, through a speaker, a sound indicating that the electronic device performs the first function.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at the controller, when the completion of the rotation operation of the switching element is not detected, recognizing that the microphone path of the electronic device is opened.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 at the controller, when recognizing that the microphone path of the electronic device is opened, providing an identifying indication to a second function icon through the display unit or outputting, through a speaker, a sound indicating that the electronic device performs the second function.   
     
     
         18 . A method for controlling a function of an electronic device, the method comprising:
 at a controller, displaying, through a display unit, a state of performing a first function or a second function by the electronic device;   at the controller, determining whether there is a touch input through a touch panel;   at the controller, when there is the touch input, determining whether a first function icon or a second function icon is selected; and   at the controller, when there is a signal of selecting the first function icon, closing a microphone path through a blocking member by rotating a switching element in one direction.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first function is a waterproof function of the electronic device and the second function is a microphone function. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 at the controller, when the microphone path is closed, providing an identifying indication to the first function icon through the display unit or outputting, through a speaker, a sound indicating that the first function is performed.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 at the controller, when there is a signal of selecting the second function icon, opening the microphone path through a microphone hole by rotating the switching element in a reverse direction.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 at the controller, when the microphone path is opened, providing an identifying indication to the second function icon through the display unit or outputting, through a speaker, a sound indicating that the second function is performed.   
     
     
         23 - 24 . (canceled)